Age Is Only a Number

bra

I was having lunch with some friends a few days ago and the conversation somehow turned to breasts. One of the girls casually mentioned that she had stopped wearing a bra some time ago. She said she loved the feeling of freedom that it gave her. Instead of the constrictions of an undergarment, she simply layered a couple of tops. It got me thinking about my own “girls”.

The only time I actually go bra-less is at night when I am sleeping. And yes, it is very liberating, but I would feel naked going without my bra anywhere else. When I was in my teens and early twenties, I would occasionally go without a bra because the dress or top I was wearing was cut in such a way that the straps would show and spoil the look. Today girls actually intend to show their bras and often choose colors that stand out.

The trend today seems to favor large breasts, and plastic surgeons are busy performing all kinds of expensive enhancements. Personally, I would like to give up a couple inches. I always thought breast feeding my children would cause my mammary glands to shrink up later, however that has not been the case. And aging has brought with it the inevitable boob sag.

I wonder why we seem to have a fascination with this part of the female anatomy? I have decided that it is the most obviously visible, female feature that relates to sex. It doesn’t matter whether you are wearing a top cut down to “there” or a turtleneck sweater showing no skin at all, the size and shape of your breasts are obvious. And be honest ladies, men are not the only ones who notice these attributes.

The whole process of growing breasts in puberty is a milestone. I remember a funny incident with my daughter when she was in nursery school. We had been given a bag of hand-me-down clothes from someone with older girls. The items were far too large, and I put the bag in the closet to save for a later date. While picking the kids up from nursery school a few weeks later, the teacher asked to speak with me. She could barely contain herself. She asked if I knew my 4 year old was wearing a bra. I was puzzled at first and called my daughter over. Sure enough you could see the faint outline of the training bra through her sweater. I almost died in a fit of laughter. She had found the item in the bag and tried it on in her room. She apparently liked it, and decided to wear it to school saying nothing. At home, it took some coaxing to get her out of it.

I must admit, I love beautiful, lacy lingerie. It makes me feel beautiful knowing that I am wearing pretty pieces under my clothing. I also must admit that I lived more than half my life wearing the wrong size. For years, I have admired the gorgeous windows of lingerie stores and print ads. It is only since retirement that I decided to treat myself to a properly fitted, fancy bra. The experience was enlightening, and I hate that I waited so long. For me, shopping for lingerie is like being a kid in a candy store, only the treat lasts so much longer. The “girls” look so much better with proper support, and I think it actually changes the shape of your silhouette and the way you carry yourself. It may be expensive initially, but a good bra lasts for years. I highly recommend treating yourself to this little luxury.

Aging definitely does a number on our bodies, no matter how hard we try to keep it in check. Personally speaking, I think I will always wear my bra, and hopefully it will always be colorful and lacy. If it makes you feel good about yourself, then indulge yourself. The struggle is real ladies, no matter what species we are, aging is going to present challenges, but don’t stop trying to always look and feel your best.